Advanced BioFuels USA – Truly Sustainable Renewable Future

Profit Path for Algae Biofuels: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Cellana

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellana made news at ABLC NEXT 2015 with specifics on timing, volumes, and capex. As the slides demonstrate, they plan to be cash-flow positive on the 10-acre expansion in Kona and then to be in an even better

November 06, 2015 Read Full Article

DuPont: Biofuel Not Financially Viable Until $70-$80 Oil

(Ship & Bunker) U.S.-based E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) says that biofuels derived from agricultural waste will not be competitive against conventional fuels until oil rises to $70 to$80 per barrel, the Financial Times reports. ... Energy analyst

November 06, 2015 Read Full Article

WBM Talks: Bringing the Stories of the Bioeconomy to You.

We're dedicated to sharing the stories and insight from across the entire bioeconomy - a shared knowledge is crucial for the future of the industry. That's why we've launched World Bio Markets Talks. We'll be interviewing thought leaders from the bioeconomy,

November 06, 2015 Read Full Article

Biorefinery Market to Surpass USD 790 Million by 2019 as Acceptance of Biofuels in Mainstream Usage Fueled

(SandlerResearch/PR Newswire) The increasing need for environmental sustainability and energy independence is driving the biorefinery market growth globally, between the period of 2014 and 2019. This is mainly due to its ability to generate energy and fuel through the use

November 06, 2015 Read Full Article

Santorum Loves up Ethanol at Galva Stop

(The Storm Lake Times) ... Presidential candidate Rick Santorum, R-Pa., endorsed stronger ethanol investment during visit Friday to the Quad County Corn Processors in Galva. ... “One of the things that’s helped rural small towns and farmers, particularly in

November 06, 2015 Read Full Article

Congress Misses a Chance to Improve the Transportation Bill

(The Washington Post) ... But the process apparently isn’t open enough to allow for a vote on the most obvious transportation solution: raising the gasoline tax to pay for the country’s roads and rails. In the past, House leaders weren’t so

November 05, 2015 Read Full Article

Open-Bio: Creation of a Bio-Based Products Database for Public Procurement

Present your bio-based products on a new, public information platform -- The EU is currently seeking ways to promote the market uptake of bio-based products through standards, labels and public procurement. nova-Institute – together with the German Agency for Renewable

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

Definition, Calculation and Comparison of the “Biomass Utilization Efficiency (BUE)” of Various Bio-based Chemicals, Polymers and Fuels

by Iffland, K., Sherwood, J., Carus M., Raschka, A., Farmer, T., Clark, J. (nova-Institute) Experts from nova-Institute, industry and several European Universities developed a new approach to support policy and investment decisions on which feedstock – process – product combination

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Innovation Award "Bio-based Material of the Year 2016" DEADLINE: February 8, 2016

(nova-Institut GmbH) For the ninth year running, the Innovation Award “Bio-based Material of the Year” will be granted to the young, innovative bio-based chemicals and materials industry for finding suitable applications and markets for bio-based products. The focus of the

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

CALL FOR PAPERS: 9th International Conference on Bio-Based Materials — April 5-6, 2016 — Cologne, Germany DEADLINE: November 30, 2015

This conference aims to provide international major players from the bio-based building blocks, polymers and industrial biotechnology industries with an opportunity to present and discuss their latest developments and strategies. Representatives of political bodies and associations will also have their

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

DEINOVE Announces a New R&D Project in Animal Nutrition with Flint Hills Resources

(DEINOVE/BusinessWire) DEINOVE (Paris:ALDEI), a biotech company developing innovative processes for producing biofuels and bio-based chemicals by using Deinococcus bacteria as host strains, today announces an agreement with Flint Hills Resources to develop a process for producing ingredients for animal nutrition. Flint

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

Neste and Boeing to Lead the Industry on Commercialization of Renewable Aviation Fuels

(Neste/Globe Newswire) Neste, the leading producer of renewable diesel and Boeing, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer will work together to promote and accelerate the commercialization of renewable aviation fuel. The companies will work toward American Society for Testing and Materials

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

House Science Committee Hearing Exposes Fundamental Flaws in RFS Opponents Attacks

(Renewable Fuels Association) Today (November 3, 2015), the House Science, Space and Technology committee held a joint hearing of the subcommittees on Environment and Oversight titled “Renewable Fuel Standard: A Ten Year Review of Costs and Benefits.” Renewable Fuels Association

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

EPA Calls for the 21st Presidential Green Chemistry Award Nominations DEADLINE: December 31, 2015

(Environmental Protection Agency) Program promotes environmental and economic benefits of using novel green technologies in chemical design, manufacture, and use -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its request for nominations for its 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

NBB to Congress: Stop Subsidizing Foreign Biodiesel Production

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) As the battle over the biodiesel tax credit structure heats up, the National Biodiesel Board sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and Ranking Member Sander Levin Oct. 28 urging

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

All Auto Owners Can Choose Premium E30

by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Back in September I brought you a story about Orrie Swayze, an active ethanol advocate, who wants all drivers to use E30 in their cars. At the time, there was a special order in front of

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

New Dual-Purpose Bioenergy, Forage Crop Set for Release by AgriLife Research Next Year

by Kay Ledbetter (AgriLife Today) Dr. Russ Jessup, an AgriLife Research perennial grass breeder in College Station, said he is introducing a new biofuel-biomass feedstock that is a hybrid “similar to seedless watermelons, seedless grapes and other sterile triploid crops.” Jessup

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

Minister Launches HITRANS Rural Airports Project

(HITRANS) HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, is spearheading a significant European-funded project to assist and develop rural and remote airports with use of new technologies. ... Mindful of aviation’s carbon footprint, two work strands have

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

UK Study Shows Greater GHG Benefits from Biofuels

(Renewable Energy Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The conclusions of five years of field research in the UK show that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by the UK’s arable sector are significantly lower than previously thought. The report is positive news

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to Holland & Knight’s “Formulating Successful Grant & Loan Strategies

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 5 pieces of advice, above all, Holland & Knight give in obtaining grants and research opportunities through the Federal Government: Align with agency and programmatic objectives and metrics. Build relationships with technology offices and experienced partners in

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

Genera Energy, Precision Hawk Launch Drone/Analytics Partnership for Sustainable Biomass

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC NEXT, PrecisionHawk and Genera Energy announced a partnership to develop new analysis algorithms specific to improving the efficiency and quality of sustainable biomass crop production and distribution. The algorithms will convert raw aerial

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

Virent, Renmatix, Verdezyne Take Top Slots in The 40 Hottest Small Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy for 2015-16

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Renmatix, Verdezyne take top slots in The 40 Hottest Small Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy for 2015-16 -- At the ABLC NEXT 2015 conference in San Francisco, Virent took the #1 spot in

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

U.S. Oil Refiners Look Abroad for Crude Supplies as North Dakota Boom Fades

by Jarrett Renshaw and Catherine Ngai (Reuters) ... North Dakota's Bakken production peaked at 1.153 million barrels per day in June, and had fallen to 1.13 million barrels per day by August, according to state data. The supply restraint has made Bakken

November 04, 2015 Read Full Article

High-Content Ethanol Pumps in Ohio to Get Boost from $3.4 Million Grant

(Columbus Dispatch) Ohio received a $3.4 million grant to install more than 100 pumps for ethanol-blended fuels. The grant was through the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Corn Marketing Program and will double the number of higher-ethanol pumps —

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

BP Says Carbon Charge Needed to Make Renewables Cost Competitive

by Sarah Kent (Global Finance) ... The cost of producing energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind will fall sharply over the next 35 years, BP PLC said Monday, but without a system in place that levies a charge for

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Obama's Climate Plan Is a 'Fantasy Document'

by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) ... "If you add them up, we are way, way, way short to what we committed to in Paris," said David Bookbinder, former counsel for environmental group Sierra Club and a leading figure on environmental

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Genomics-Assisted Breeding for Leaf Rust (Melampsora) Resistance in Shrub Willow (Salix) Bioenergy Crops

by Larry Smart and Christine Smart (US Department of Energy Genomics Science Program) The generation of renewable energy and the manufacture of biobased products can significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and begin to limit the impacts of global climate

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

American Ethanol Front and Center at Texas Motor Speedway November 6-8, 2015

(National Corn Growers Association) For the third year in a row, Texas Corn Producers is teaming up with American Ethanol at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. On November 6 through 8, American Ethanol will be top of mind

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Biofuels Mobile Education Center Spreads Awareness of Biofuels

by Shannon Yokley (Brownfield Ag News) The Biofuels Mobile Education Center (BMEC) is traveling from coast to coast to spread awareness about the benefits of ethanol. One of their recent stops was at the Kansas City Speedway to grab the

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Biofuels Program Meant to Promote Different Blends at Pump

(Associated Press/Bakken.com) The North Dakota Department of Commerce is accepting applications for a program to market biofuels. The $1.2 million program sponsored through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership offers grants to test and evaluate ways to promote

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

CALL FOR SPEAKERS: International Biomass Conference and Expo — April 11-14, 2016 — Charlotte, NC DEADLINE: December 18, 2015

Showcase Your Expertise Now Accepting Presentation Ideas and Poster Abstracts! Presentation ideas and poster abstracts will be accepted for the 2016 International Biomass Conference & Expo through December 18, 2015. Presentation ideas and poster abstracts may be submitted in one of four tracks: Track

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

2016 National Ethanol Conference Scholarships Sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Foundation and the Renewable Fuels Association

(Renewable Fuels Association) Now in its seventh year, the NEC Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Foundation and the Renewable Fuels Association, seeks to attract students of higher learning who wish to pursue a career related to ethanol. By

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Payne Leads House Members in Calling on EPA to Protect Biofuels Volume Requirement

(Office if Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.) As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizes proposed rules under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) and 15 of his House colleagues urged the agency not to

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

CBC to EPA: Commit to the RFS

by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Sixteen members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today calling on the agency to get back on track with the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and strengthen the

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Money Flowing to Install More Ethanol Blender Pumps in Nebraska

(Lincoln Journal Star) Money raised or promised in Nebraska has more than matched $2.85 million in federal funds to establish a public-private partnership to add 80 new blender pumps across the state of Nebraska, allowing greater access to ethanol for

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

How Gas-Guzzling Americans Are Aiding the Call for More Biofuels

by Mario Parker (BloombergBusiness) Obama administration may increase biofuel consumption targets; U.S. gasoline demand this year to reach highest since 2007 -- More demand means more gasoline being blended. And more blending means more ethanol potentially getting added to the mix.

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Ethanol Is a Net Energy Winner

by Monte Shaw (Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) Letter to Editor: I was embarrassed for the University of Northern Iowa to read the recent letter to the editor by professor Kamyar Enshayan regarding ethanol ['Renewable fuel' a term thrown around loosely, Oct.

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Mission Incomplete

by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Defense has yet to purchase alternative fuels beyond testing and demonstration purposes, but intentions remain. -- In July, the U.S. Government Accountability Office published a report observing U.S. Department of Defense

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Great Green Fleet Adrift

by Tim Portz (Biomass Magazine) The enormity of the military’s fuel usage is still very much on the industry’s radar, but the exuberance of 2012-‘13 has largely been replaced with the more measured tone. -- Three years ago, in the months

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Better Biofuels Ahead: The Road to Low-Carbon Fuels

by Emily Cassidy (Environmental Working Group) Biofuels produced from switchgrass and post-harvest corn waste could significantly reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change, according to an analysis by EWG and University of California biofuels experts. EWG’s analysis found that the life

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Wisconsin Expands Biofuel Fueling Stations

(Spooner Advocate) The Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced that Wisconsin is the recipient of a $3.7 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to significantly expand and support the installation of ethanol blending equipment at retail gas stations throughout the

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Neutrons Help Decipher Enzyme Function for Cellulosic Conversion

(Technical University of Munich/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Using neutrons, researchers have now investigated the reaction mechanism of an important class of enzymes: the glycosidases. The measurements were made at the neutron sources in Los Alamos and Oak Ridge (USA), as

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

United Biscuits Expands UCO Biodiesel Fleet to 16 Trucks

by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the UK, United Biscuits now has 16 delivery trucks running on biodiesel produced from UCO used in the making of its products from McVitties to Jaffa Cakes. The company added six more trucks to

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

The Biobased Option: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Biobased Products

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Includes Ohio State University's "Advanced Bioeconomy" flowchart and BioPreferred Program map; results of surveys regarding awareness of bio-based products, etc. READ MORE

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

In Search of 100 Million (Truly?) Clean Cookstoves

by Marc Gunther (Nonprofit Chronicles) ... “Why exactly are we ahead with 100 million more wood burning stoves in the world? It’s an output metric and not an impact metric,” says Kevin Starr of Mulago, who wrote a pointed 2014 essay

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Automobile Fuel Economy Standards in a Lower-Oil-Price World: A CFR Discussion Paper

by Varun Sivaram and Michael A. Levi (Council on Foreign Relations) Corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, which require automakers to achieve government-mandated targets for the efficiency of the vehicles they sell each year, can reduce U.S. reliance on oil,

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

EPA Says Volkswagen Cheated a 2nd Time on Pollution Tests

by Matthew Daly and Tom Krisher (Associated Press/Washington Post) ... The Environmental Protection Agency, along with the California Air Resources Board, said Volkswagen installed software on thousands of Audi, Porsche and VW cars with six-cylinder diesel engines that allowed them to emit

November 03, 2015 Read Full Article

Acceptance of Global Warming Rising for Americans of all Religious Beliefs

(Ford School Center for Local, State and Urban Policy) The release earlier this year of the Papal Encyclical, Laudato Si’, and the visit of Pope Francis to the United States have reinvigorated the discussion of the relationship between religion and

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Best Halloween Costume Goes to Carbon Dioxide!

It's Politico Morning Energy's Eric Wolff and his twins embodying an idea suggested by Cheryl Wilson of Bloomberg Intelligence. READ MORE

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Biodiesel Poll: 80% of Voters Support a US Renewable Fuel Standard

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, 80 percent of US registered voters support a renewable fuel standard today and just 10 percent oppose. The remaining 9 percent are unsure. Moore Information conducted an online survey of registered voters nationwide on

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Vertimass, DOE Validate Benchmarks, Process Design for High-Yield Alcohol-to-Fuels Technology

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Vertimass completed its DOE technology validation that verifies the benchmark performance, initial process design and preliminary cost information for a new award of $2 million by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Fuels America: How Did the Oil Industry Suddenly Become Obama Administration Climate Policy Advisors?

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, Fuels America will launch a seven-figure TV and digital ad campaign Friday morning depicting President Obama’s choice of who to listen to when it comes to the Renewable Fuel Standard: his own experts

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Solazyme Expanding: The Digest’s Updated 2015 8-Slide Guide

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Headquartered in South San Francisco, Solazyme’s renewable products can replace or enhance oils derived from the world’s three existing sources – petroleum, plants and animal fats. Initially, Solazyme is focused on commercializing its products into

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Governments to Raise $22 Billion from Carbon Pricing in 2015: Report

by Susanna Twidale (Reuters) Governments around the world will this year raise around $22 billion from schemes putting a price on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions such as taxes or emissions trading systems, a report on Wednesday showed. The role of carbon pricing,

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Opinions Sought on National Forest Service Biofuels, Forest Restoration Projects

(Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems) Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies (BANR research member David Jackson, PhD of the University of Idaho seeks participants for a survey of "a broad cross-section of the American public" to evaluate interest in woody biomass

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

USDA Climate Hubs Fellows Program (CFHP) Opportunity--App DEADLINE: Nov. 20, 2015

(Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems) USDA-NIFA CLIMATE HUBS FELLOWS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, WITH A NOVEMBER 20TH, 2015 APPLICATION DEADLINE The Climate Hubs Fellows Program (CHFP) has been announced (http://go.usa.gov/3J4GA). The deadline for applications is November 20th. The CHFP

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

2016 SouthEast Energy Development (SEED) Fellowship Program -- 10 Week Summer Undergraduate Fellowship (MAY 23 ‐JULY 23, 2015) App. DEADLINE Nov. 23, 2015

The Southeast Energy Development (SEED) Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture‐Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program under the Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems (IBSS) project. The SEED Fellows will: Work in a multidisciplinary team for 10

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Heineken Brewery Celebrates Achieving Carbon-Neutral Milestone

by Ron Kotrba (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Biodiesel process and biogas technology provider BDI-BioEnergy International AG and Brau Union Österreich, part of the international Heineken family, celebrated the opening of a new spent-grain fermentation plant at the Göss Brewery in Austria,

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

These Cheap, Clean Stoves Were Supposed to Save Millions of Lives. What Happened?

by Marc Gunther (Washington Post) ... Of those 28 million cookstoves, only 8.2 million — the ones that run on electricity or burn liquid fuels including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol and biogas — meet the health guidelines for indoor emissions

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Moderate GOP Senators Form Green Coalition

by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Four centrist Senate Republicans are banding together to call for policies to protect the environment. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) describe the group as a loose coalition

November 02, 2015 Read Full Article

Brazil's CRA Clears Bill to Boost Biofuel Production at Small Plants

(See News) Brazil's Commission of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (CRA) approved today the bill 252/11 that seeks to encourage production of biofuels at micro plants, especially those operated by family farmers. In Brazil, micro biofuel plants are those with a production capacity of up to

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Kansas to Receive $1.3M in Federal Matching Funds to Add More Ethanol Pumps for Motorists

(Associated Press/The Republic) The U.S. Agriculture Department has awarded Kansas $1.3 million in matching funds for a program to increase the availability of ethanol blended fuels for motorists. ... The funds will allow a coalition called the Kansas Better Blends Initiative

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

USDA Chief Economist Office Examines Ethanol’s Complex Impact

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) USDA's Office of the Chief Economist just released a comprehensive report on ethanol. The 87-page report, “U.S. Ethanol: An Examination of Policy, Production, Use, Distribution, and Market Interactions,” examines the complex interaction of

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Demonstrating the Feasibility of Locally Produced Ethanol for Household Cooking from Waste in Addis Ababa

(Gaia Association) Gaia Association contributes to poverty reduction and climate mitigation by enabling access to clean, safe, renewable and locally produced household cooking fuels to displace the traditional use of biomass for cooking in Ethiopian communities. With this objective Gaia Association

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Stora Enso Division US Headquarters Move to Raceland, Louisiana

by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) ...The Raceland plant uses technology developed by Virdia and enables cellulosic biomass, such as wood or agricultural waste, to be converted into highly refined sugars. It is located in the vicinity of existing sugar cane plantations and will use bagasse waste as feedstock. Sugar

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

UPM to Field Test Wood-Based Diesel Fuel in Urban Bus Traffic

(UPM Biofuels/Biomass Magazine) UPM is to start field tests of its novel wood-based diesel fuel in urban buses together with Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) and the VTT Technical Research Centre. The field tests are also supported by St1, Volvo and

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Biofuel Groups Debate Fate of Renewable Fuel Standard

by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Agreeing to respectfully disagree was one of very few assenting points reached by association heads representing the biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuel groups during a candid debate about the renewable fuel standard (RFS), policy amendments

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Alliance Bioenergy Improves CTS Conversion Rates in October

(Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc./Biomass Magazine) Alliance Bioenergy Plus, Inc. recently announced that its subsidiary Ek Laboratories in Longwood, Florida, under the direction of Dr. Richard Blair, Dr. Peter Cohen and Dr. Zhilin Xie, continues to see success in optimizing the commercial

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Public Meeting Scheduled for New Biofuel Plant on Hershey Drive, Smiths Falls

(Inside Ottawa Valley) Community feedback is being sought in the proposed opening of a 8,073 square feet biofuel facility at 1 Hershey Drive. ... The firm, C3 Acquisition Inc., has leased the facility space from Tweed Inc with plans to install two

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

CLEANCOOK Star Stove Concept Demo

(CLEANCOOK) An animated video showing a new clean cooking stove concept for the developing world. Highly automated production, optimized logistics and local assembly will bring proven technologies to the developing world markets at a lower cost and create local employment. Along

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

DuPont Celebrates the Opening of the World’s Largest Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

(DuPont/PR Web) DuPont celebrated the opening of its cellulosic biofuel facility in Nevada, Iowa, with a ceremony including Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad and many other dignitaries. This biorefinery is the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, with the capacity to produce

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Uganda Ethanol Plant to Start Commercial Output in July 2016

by Fred Ojambo (Bloomberg Business) Praj Industries of India contracted to build 6,000l/day plant; Uganda to enforce biofuels blending when crude output starts Kakira Sugar Works Ltd., Uganda’s biggest producer of the sweetener, said it will start commercial output at its $36.6 million

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Punjab to Become Bio-Refinery Leader in Next Two Years

(Punjab News Express) The Progressive Punjab Investor Summit 2015 today culmination of yearlong efforts by Bikram Singh Majithia, Renewable Energy Minister Punjab that brought largest ever bio-refinery in the wheat bowl of the country that would solve the end of

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Biotechnology Company Seeks $26 Million in Public Funding

by Bill Hanna (Mesabi Daily News) Mountain Iron intended home for Sweetwater Energy project -- The Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board on Friday will consider authorizing $26 million in public money for a startup biotechnology company in Rochester, N.Y.,

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Ethanol from Corn Stalks: A Cure for Climate Change?

by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) ... "This is one of the core technologies that we need to cut oil use and reduce emissions from transportation," said Jeremy Martin, a senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "It would be great if we

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Sen. Charles Grassley: It’s No Trick: Cellulosic Ethanol a Treat for Iowa Economy

by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) (Ames Tribune) ... Iowa’s new cellulosic facility also will help dry up the crocodile tears spilled by Big Food that tries to assign blame to corn-based ethanol for rising food prices. Don’t forget, the facility in

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

USDA Spending $3 Million To Add Ethanol Fuel Pumps In Michigan

(Associated Press/CBS Radio) The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it is spending $3 million to add about 130 additional ethanol fuel pumps in Michigan. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says Thursday the grant will be matched by state and

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Merging Refinery Tech with Biofuels: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Honeywell’s UOP

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Honeywell’s UOP has developed a renewable jet fuel processing technology, a renewable diesel process, as well as a joint venture, Envergent Technologies, that will market technologies and equipment for generating power, transportation fuel and heating

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

New Ozone Regulations Ignore Tailpipe Exhaust

(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) welcomes new ozone standards that will further protect public health from the negative respiratory, developmental, and other health effects of ozone exposure. The new standards, set at 70

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Nevada DuPont Facility Opening on Friday

by Grayson Schmidt (Ames Tribune) ... According to Plant Operations Manager Terraun Jones, the new facility will not only impact the biofuel industry, but will also boost the local economy by bringing in 90 permanent jobs at the site, and 150

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Democratic Presidential Contenders Join Calls To Investigate Exxon

by Daniel Marans (Huffington Post) Two Democratic presidential candidates indicated on Friday (October 16, 2015) they support an investigation of oil giant ExxonMobil for concealing research on fossil fuels’ contribution to climate change, following a call by two House Democrats for

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

Answers for Your Questions about Low Oil Prices and Renewable Fuels

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest looks at security and energy security --- ... This week, the head of Russian state intelligence service, Alexander Bortnikov,warned of a potential “invasion of Central Asia”by Taliban or ISIS forces. And, the US and

October 30, 2015 Read Full Article

What to Consider Before Making the Decision to Offer Biodiesel

by Jon Scharingson (Renewable Energy Group, Inc./Convenience Store Decisions) Whether or not to sell biodiesel can be a significant decision for a convenience store owner. Convenience store owners need to determine what will work best for their operation and how they

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Everyone’s Favorite Climate Change Fix

by Cristina Maza (The Christian Science Monitor) Economists, officials, and executives across the globe increasingly support carbon pricing to stem the rise of greenhouse-gas emissions. Can it work? --- ... “Pricing carbon obviously adds a cost to our production and our products,”

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Govt Mulls over Biofuel Option at the Pumps

by Christopher Tan (Straits Times Singapore) Authorities seeking industry views on feasibility of such plant-based fuels -- Singapore is exploring the possibility of introducing biofuels at the pumps. ... The National Environment Agency has reached out to the auto and transport industries to

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Fueling Our Future, from Wood to Wing

by Stephanie Pearl (US Department of Agriculture) U.S. airline carriers collectively used more than 16 billion gallons of jet fuel in 2014. Given growing concerns over energy independence and the environment, commercial airlines are looking for secure and reliable alternative jet

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Green Chemistry Innovation Portal Is a Free Resource

The Green Chemistry & Commerce Council and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®have partnered to create a new online platform for green chemistry professionals to share information and collaborate on research and innovative technologies.The Green Chemistry Innovation Portal is a free

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Energy Department Harvesting Technology Goes Commercial

by Alison Goss Eng and Daniel Adams (U.S. Department of Energy) ... Earlier this year, we highlighted five cost-saving harvesting technologies that private companies and universities developed through $21 million in 2009 funding from the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). At the

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Turn Your Halloween Pumpkins Into Power

(U.S. Department of Energy) ... The Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is working together with industry to develop and test integrated biorefineries—facilities capable of efficiently converting plant and waste material into affordable biofuels, biopower and other products. These projects are located around the country

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

New BETO Fact Sheets Profile the Emerging Bioeconomy by State

(U.S. Department of Energy) How is funding from BETO a part of the emerging bioeconomy in some states? Find out with our new state fact sheets. For select states, these fact sheets give information about efforts to develop the advanced

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

New Biofuel Cells Will Retire Toxic Metals

by Berit Viuf (ScienceNordic) Natural enzymes can replace the expensive and toxic precious metals used in fuel cells. -- ... Fuel cells are environmentally friendly to use, but their manufacture involves the use of precious metals, like platinum. These are not only

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Avril Targets France's Higher Biodiesel Blending Needs with New Plant

(Reuters) Avril aims to meet demand from higher French biodiesel blending levels with output from a 100,000-tonne-per-year plant it opened on France's Mediterranean coast on Wednesday, the chief executive of the European Union's largest maker of the biofuel said. The facility

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

All Indonesian Airliners Will in 2018 Be Obliged to Use Aviation Biofuel that Can Reduce Air Pollution

by Leo Jegho (Global Indonesian Voices) All airline companies operating in Indonesia will be obliged to use aviation biofuel for their aircraft instead of avtur from 2018 onwards, which aims to help reduce air pollution, Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan said

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Ten Billion Euros of Investment in Advanced Biofuels

by James Cogan At a time when carbon emissions should be dropping by 40%-80% EU transport emissions will actually increase by that amount, becoming the number one EU contributor to catastrophic global warming. -- Transport emissions can only be reduced in

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Not Becoming Toast: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Supply Chain Risk

by Jonathan McCoy (Zurich Energy/Biofuels Digest) So, you have a great technology, it scales and it works. You have a customer. Supper. But if you don’t have a supply chain, you’re toast. Here’s a recent deck on avoiding the toaster,

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Are White House Insiders With Connections to Big Oil Undermining the President's Climate Change Agenda?

by Paul Alexander (Huffington Post) ... (H)e must explain his decision to gut the Renewable Fuel Standard and hand Big Oil a decisive political victory. One lingering question is, did high-level White House staffers with close ties to oil companies

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Carson Shifts Course on Ethanol Policy

by Brianne Pfannenstiel (Des Moines Register) Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson appeared to reverse course on ethanol policy Wednesday, backtracking from his earlier idea to help the ethanol industry rather than the oil industry. ... In May, Carson said he “would probably be in favor of taking

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Oil Lobby Launches New Campaign against Ethanol Mandate

by Devin Henry (The Hill) The American Petroleum Institute (API) will run a “multifaceted advocacy campaign” against the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for the next month ahead of a deadline for the Obama administration to finalize three years of standards

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

Soapbox: Fossil Fuel Is a Bad Investment

by Danny Kennedy and Jeremy Leggett (California Clean Energy Fund/Carbon Tracker Initiative/Sacramento Bee) ... Since 2013, the world has been adding more renewable electricity capacity than fossil fuel capacity each year. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel industry is showing its age. For

October 29, 2015 Read Full Article

DOE Report : Ethanol Is Key for Increased Engine Efficiency and Reducing Emissions

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) ... According to the DOE's 2015 Quadrennial Technology Review, the internal combustion engine is one of the most promising and cost-effective approaches to improving fuel economy in the near to mid-term. This, the DOE said, can be achieved